Letting my broody raise 20 meaties. Now I have a rooster raising 50 CX chicks~new batch!

[Beekissed]

You're mom must have been related to MY mom! We heard the same thing...once you're out, you're out and when you're in you're in for good. We'd come in soaking wet, chilled to the bone and with our faces and extremities numb. But, man, did we have fun! Poor kids nowadays don't know about sledding all day until you were about to pee your pants because you didn't want to have to take down all those layers of clothes to go to the bathroom!

 

[BCMaraniac]

You're mom must have been related to MY mom! We heard the same thing...once you're out, you're out and when you're in you're in for good. We'd come in soaking wet, chilled to the bone and with our faces and extremities numb. But, man, did we have fun! Poor kids nowadays don't know about sledding all day until you were about to pee your pants because you didn't want to have to take down all those layers of clothes to go to the bathroom!

That's it exactly!!!

 

[pipemum]

The chicks are just over 3 weeks old now. Last week, I moved mom and babies to the meatie pen. I hand-carried the babies, and there are 15, not 14. So this little tiny hen is keeping 15 broilers warm, all by herself in the middle of winter. Granted, this is southern AZ so our winters aren't really "winter." But, yeah, so easy to raise chicks this way. The ONLY downfall to this is that the chicks are even more skittish of me than normal.

 

[Beekissed]

The chicks are just over 3 weeks old now. Last week, I moved mom and babies to the meatie pen. I hand-carried the babies, and there are 15, not 14. So this little tiny hen is keeping 15 broilers warm, all by herself in the middle of winter. Granted, this is southern AZ so our winters aren't really "winter." But, yeah, so easy to raise chicks this way. The ONLY downfall to this is that the chicks are even more skittish of me than normal.

That will happen with broody raised chicks...and it's a good thing! Survival instincts at their best when trained by a real mama and not dependent upon the human for nurturing. Isn't it neat not to have to worry about the warmth of the brooder, pasty butt, etc.?

What a little trooper your hen is!

 

[pipemum]

Yes, it is super easy. The broody's sister has now gone, well, broody...and I'm a little disappointed that this current batch of meaties are the red/black slow grower broilers. If they were the CX, the timing would work out so that I could use this second broody to raise another small batch of CX, but as it is, there would be too much overlap and I'm out of space. Darn slow growers are taking up valuable room!

 

[Beekissed]

So...when do we get some pics of the happy family?

 

[pipemum]

I know, I barely have any pictures! Here's one from a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Beekissed]

Awwwww! Aren't they cuties!!! Not swollen looking like CX chicks....

 

[BCMaraniac]

The chicks are just over 3 weeks old now. Last week, I moved mom and babies to the meatie pen. I hand-carried the babies, and there are 15, not 14. So this little tiny hen is keeping 15 broilers warm, all by herself in the middle of winter. Granted, this is southern AZ so our winters aren't really "winter." But, yeah, so easy to raise chicks this way. The ONLY downfall to this is that the chicks are even more skittish of me than normal.

Are you sure they aren't keeping her warm???